Sam’s Stories/Interviews

• For Los Angeles Magazine, the story of Arlene Rodriguez, a real estate agent who ended up as shot caller of Florencia 13, one of the largest street gangs in Southern California, before she had to flee.

• A KCRW (89.9FM) radio story about deportees in a Tijuana flophouse. A shorter radio story for KCRW about the arrival of large numbers of Haitians in Tijuana, traveling up from Brazil, looking for asylum in the U.S.

• A National Geographic story about Cd Juarez’s emergence from a nightmare of murder, extortion and kidnaping by investing in local infrastructure and institutions. An example for the rest of Mexico.

• A Los Angeles Magazine story of three immigrants – a Zapotec Indian from the highlands of Oaxaca, a Korean, and an Armenian – who separately helped shape modern L.A.

• How the Hamburger Hamlet restaurant chain helped create a kitchen dynasty of Zapotec Indians in Los Angeles. The piece revolves around Marcelino Martinez, who came to work for the chain in 1970 and remains there still.

• The story of the Cambodian Donut King, Ted Ngoy,who opened America to thousands of refugees from the Killing Fields by opening doughnut shops across Southern California, then lost them all to his one weakness, and wound up homeless.

• An LAT Magazine story about Los Tigres del Norte, the greatest binational pop band and the best chroniclers of Mexican immigrants’ experience in the USA. Plus, the band that showed me another part of Mexico and America. Many thanks, guys!

8 Comments

I read the “serving all your heroin needs” and have to say that the only difference between 1971 when I began shooting heroin is the ways in which to acquire it. which to me is still a disgrace. I am clean since 10/8/1977 yes, nearly 38 years. got clean at age 23 facing life in prison under Rockefeller laws, homeless, hep C and spiritually dying. when are we going to realize that these ways in which to acquire, to smoke, shoot, snort, to ingest in essence is not the problem here! the insides of these young men and women is what’s suffering, their minds and souls are calling for self medication. the void is within not without. in hindsight I see my desperation for escape was what preceded sticking needles in my arms, only to find out when it all stopped working that that inner diseased 17 year old was now at 23 sicker then he was at 17. I am the fortunate one, I have been clean and sober since being a young man. my life is devoted to recovery and helping these youngsters, I am part of both 12 step fellowships dealing with addiction. I have been fighting with politicians on change and redirection but they don’t produce anything but more denial and i9ncompetence when heroin and addiction is the topic. do you want a solution or do you want methadone clinics on every corner? we need to educate our kids in first grade, second grade and through elementary school. I did public speaking in the school system from junior high to college on addiction, sorry but its to late for that at such an age! most of our emotionally crippled kids shooting heroin were already seeking comfort emotionally AND SPIRITUALLY from bad homes, abusive parents, poverty and domestic violence long before sixth grade, I was first incarcerated in 4th grade! lets talk about this Sam because my story needs to be heard. I’ve written books, did short film on the topic and never stop trying to save a life. I sponsor some very successful young men for many years who want to be heard. we need numbers and those numbers have to come from peopled recovered and not just seeking recovery. im rich Davis, and im an addict in recovery for over 37 years, let me help!!

Delighted to find this beautifully designed website, today. Was acquainted with Sam Quinones, many years ago, when we both were employed by a newspaper in Mexico City. My boyfriend at the time, was also working as a Journalist on the same publication, and I was doing graphic design, there. Sam’s determined attitude in doing reporter work was admirable. His skills far outstripped most of the other reporters, (including my boyfriend’s). Glad to hear that he found true love, and has a family, as well as being a successful author! Very impressive. I left Mexico many, many years ago, and have to say I do not miss living there, although the experience of doing so made me grow in amazing ways. Living in that pollution may be the reason I suffered a stroke in 2001. Have not seen or heard from the guy I moved to Mexico City with, for many, many years. He was involved with a Mexican gal, who held some sort of title. (The last time I saw Chuck, he was descending the staircase of the Mexico City apartment where we lived. He was following a very large & fancily dresses Mexican gal, smelling “loudly” of sex and perfume). This woman was also employed by the magazine Chuck reported for and for which I did the design work. Her main contribution to the magazine, was an “element of Society.”
This confrontation inspired me to buy an airplane ticket to Washington, D.C., & pack my bags. Don’t miss either Chuck Wilbanks, nor Mexico, one tiny bit. Am glad I experienced first hand the celebration of “Dia de las Muertos” while living there. Very magicla. I do send my best wishes to the Quinones family. Glad your children will get an education in the United States, Mr. & Mrs. Quinones. Sincerely, V.A. Russell Monday, November 14th, 2016, 3:55 p.m.

Richard Davis, thank you for such a heartfelt and honest reply about the epidemic of heroin use. All that you shared is essential for everyone to hear. Especially, the fact that the “void” that potential users are seeking to fill begins at a much earlier age than junior high or high school, and how the “void” is caused by the reasons you mention. In fact, I would add that it is also due to sexual abuse and neglect. So long as we have a culture that glamorizes violence, hyper sexualizes women, saturates the public with constant advertising to consume an abundance of unnecessary things, we will always seek to fill that void externally. Unfortunately, for many it is as “simple” as popping a pill or for others a drive to kill for monetary pleasure and a moment of a high in the rush. Clearly, there is plenty that is off balance these days. Values are very different in modern industrialized capitalist countries. And now in this global economy, the world is affected. There seems to be no way around it. So for now, it is about remaining rooted in the principles and practice of respect, love, honor and care for ALL forms of life…no matter what class, race, gender, sexual orientation. NO matter if you are two-legged, four-legged, winged, or a crawler…RESPECT for ALL life. And only then, will we become human again and learn what it feels like to feel full of life, full of love, full of peace.

Sam, I purchased your book “Dreamland” at this year’s nat’l prescription drug and heroin summit in Atlanta. I am the overdose prevention coordinator for South Carolina. I worked for 16 years at the state health department, 11 in HIV/STD and 5 in viral hepatitis. But in November of 2016, I left the health dept to work at the state drug authority to coordinate the naloxone grant in our state. On December 27, 2016, I lost my God son, Dylan who was only 23, to a Fentanyl overdose. He died in his father’s arms. My work became so much more urgent because of that loss. I was so sorry to hear of your recent illness. I wish I could have met you at the summit and I hope you are recovering well. I want to thank you for the work you’ve done in raising our awareness of the perfect storm that has become America’s opioid epidemic. This is such an important read. And for what it is worth, I am telling everyone I know to read it. Now that I am finished with my copy, I am passing it on to Dylan’s father. Best to you!

I just finished reading your book “Dreamland” I learned this book from your interview with PBS about Chasing Heroin. Your writing moved me….My 6 years relationship with Younness ended because of prescription drug oxy….I was devastated learning that he is addicted to this medication. Oxy developed a different side of him. He became liar, theft, manipulator and whole different person. Thank you for writing this book. I am so sad that it happened here in our country. I always think about him and I hope that he will overcome and fight this disease. Thank you!

Karen – thank you so much for writing in. i’m sorry it took so long to post it. very poignant letter. this story has repeated all across the country – amazing the changes that addiction to this class of drugs engenders. sam